Bottle crate



May 28, 1946.- L. A. FORDN BOTTLE CRATE Filed May- 16, 1944 5Sheets-Sheet 2 f ff 75 1 May 28, 1946. L. A. FORDON BOTTLE CRATEy FiledMay 15, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 so that the upper crates are der frames 3and 4.

Patented May 28, `1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE CRATE Lee A.Fordon, Detroit, Mich.

Application May 16, 1944, Serial-No. 535,811.

(Cl. E20-97) 11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bottle crates.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a bottle crate in which provision is made forapluralityof crates to be nested compactly orarranged in stackedposition.

Second, to provide `a stacking crate in which the crates when stackedare very securely retained not rlikely to slide ofi or become displaced.

Third, to provide a bottle crate having these advantages which is verystrong and rigid and at the same time economical in structure. Objectspertaining to details and economies of the invention will denitelyappearfrom the description to follow. The invention is dened in the claims. v

A structure which embodies the features of the invention is clearlyillustrated in the ac*- companying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation'of a bottle crate embodying my invention withthe Stacking bars in inoperative position. i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating portionsof the stacked crates with the stacking bars in erected position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section with one crate shownin full lines, portions of a second crate being shown vby dotted linesto illustrate the nested relation.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view with astacking bar in erectedposition,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section of a modifiedform or embodiment of my invention, portions of a nested crate beingillustrated by dotted lines.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating further details ofthe structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises a top borderframe'I, bottom border frame Zand intermediate vertically spaced bor-The intermediate border frame 3 is adjacent but vertically spacedrelative to the bottom frame. The wire side slats 5 are arranged on theinner sides of the top frame I and the upper intermediate frame 4 and onthe outer sides of the bottom frame 2 and the lower intermediate frame3. These vseveral parts are Welded together. The welding is a commonyexpedient and is not here illustrated.. Crossedsets of bottom members 6and 1 are provided. welded toeach other at their crossing `points and tothe Aupper side of the bottom frame 2. This arrangethat they are alinedwith the openings in the bottom so that when the crates are superimposedthese upwardly projecting cell portions project through the openings asshown in Fig.` 3, thus permitting the compact nesting of the crates; Innested position the bottom frame 2 rests upon the partition. members.

To provide for stacking of the crates I provide stacking bars I2havingfupwardly oiset hooks I3 Yat the ends thereof to which the arms I4are `joined by means of the loops I5. The arms terminate in eyes I6which pivotally engage opposed end members I'I of the top frame, thehooks engaging the opposed side members I B of the top border frame whenthe stacking bars are in erected position. It will be noted by referenceto Fig. 2 that the upward offsetting of the hooks I3 relative to thecross reach of the stacking bar I2 provides a seat for the bottom frame2 of a superimposed crate. The arms I4 of `the stacking bars aredownwardly oifset at I9 to provide end stops or shoulders ISI and sidestops or shoulders I92. This results in a very effective anchoring ofthecrates, one upon another.` When the stacking bars are in inoperativeposition they swing down at the ends of thecrates as shown in Figs. 1and 3.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 1 that the pivot eyes I6 of thestacking bars are formed by turning upwardly the ends of the arms of thestacking bars and they are so related to the other parts of the stackingbars thatwhen the stacking bars are in inoperative position they swinginwardly to a position against or close to the ends of the crates andthereby permit close end to end stacking or positioning of the crateswithout likelihood of the stacking bars becoming engaged with adjacentcrates. The downward offsetting of the arms of the stackingbars provideeffective seats lfor superimposed crates and permit superimposing of onecrate on another with a minimum of attention on the part of theoperator-that is, the hooks I3 and the eye portions of the armseffectively guide a superimposed crate to stacking position even thoughcarelessly placed. The angles formed by the downward offset I9, it willbe noted, are rounded and this is a feature of substantial advantage.

In this preferred embodiment certain of the end slats terminate at thetop intermediate border frame as shown in Fig. 3 to provide `a hand hold2l. A channeled sheet metal grip 22 is secured to the under side of thetop frame and to adjacent slats as shown in Fig. 3, thus providing avery effective grip for handling the crate, which it will be appreciatedis quite heavy when loaded with a dozen quart bottles of milk.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 7 the lower andupper intermediate border frames 23 and 24, corresponding to the lowerand upper intermediate border frames- 3 and 4 of the embodimentdescribed, are arranged l on the outside of the side slats 25, which areinwardly offset at 26 to receive the lower intermediate border frame 23,the portions 21 of the slats belowv the border frame 23 beingsubstantially vertical while the portions above are outwardly inclinedto permit nesting.

In this embodiment the bottom is formed as Y Vcrossed sets of cell sidemembers 3l and 32 are formed to provide alternating upwardly anddownwardly disposed loops, the bights 33 of which are disposed upon andpreferably welded to the alined members 28 and 29. The bights 34 getherat their crossing point. The ends 35 and 36v of these partition membersare welded to the border frame 23. r

With this arrangement the crates may be nested as shown in Fig. 5 andthe upwardly projecting crossed loops constituting portions of the cellwalls are alined with the openings in the bottom to enter `the same whenthe crates are disposed in nested position, in this respect being thesame as in the preferred embodiment.

' The structure shown in Figs. 5 to 7 is somewhat more rigid, or thesame degree of rigidity may be obtained with lighter stock. This issomewhat offset, however, by the additional labor required in formingand assembling the parts.

I have illustrated and described my invention Vin highly practicalembodiments thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describevarious embodiments and adaptations which are possible as it is believedthis disclosure will enable the embodiment of the invention as may bedesired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A bottle crate having tapered side walls permitting the nesting ofsuperimposed crates comprising top and bottom frames, an intermediateborder frame adjacent to but spacedfrom the bottom and vertical sideslats arranged on the outer sides of the bottom frame and intermediateborder frame and on the inner side of the top frame, sets of bottommembers secured to the bottom frame, one of said sets of bottom memberscrossing another set to provide bottom supports for bottlesin cells inthe crate, the bottom members of each set being spaced to provideopenings between said bottom members, crossed sets of partition memberseach having a series of upwardly Aprojecting rloops disposed with the`aredisposed in crossed relation and welded tobights of the loops incrossed relation and secured together, said upwardly projecting crossedloops being alined with said openings in the bottom to enter the samewhen the crates are disposed in nested relation, and stacking barshaving downwardly facing upwardly oiset hooks at the ends thereof andintegral pivot arms extended from said hooks and pivotally mounted onopposed members of said top frame, said arms being downwardly offsetintermediate the hooks and their pivots to receive the corners of alsuperimposed crate arranged on said stacking bars between their saidhooks, said hooks being engageable when the stacking bars are erectedwith opposed side members of the top frame, the upwardly offset hooks atthe ends of said stacking bars being spaced to receive therebetween thebottom frame of a superimposed correspondingly shaped crate superimposedon said stacking bars, said stacking bars when the hooks thereof areengaged with the top frame being disposed above the level of the tops ofsaid loops.

2. A bottle crate having tapered side walls permitting the nesting ofsuperimposed crates comprising top and bottom frames, an intermediateborder frame adjacent to but spaced from the bottom and side slats, setsof bottom members secured to the bottom frame, one of said sets ofbottom members crossing another set to provide bottom supports forbottles in cells in the crate, the bottom members of eachset beingspaced to provide openings between said bottom members, crossed sets ofpartition members, each having a series of upwardly projecting loopsdisposed with the bights of the loops in crossed relation 4and securedtogether, said upwardly projecting crossed loops being alinedI with saidopenings in the bottom to enter the same when the crates are disposed innested relation, and stacking bars having downwardly facing upwardlyoset hooks at the ends thereof and integral pivot arms extended fromsaid hooks and pivotally mounted on opposed members of said top frame,said arms being downwardly offset intermediate the hooks and theirpivots to receive the corners of a superimposed crate arranged on saidstacking bars between their said hooks, said hooks being engageable whenthe stacking bars arel erected with opposed side members of the topframe, the upwardly offset hooks at the ends of said stacking bars beingspaced to receive therebetween the vbottom frame of a superimposedcorrespondingly shaped crate superimposed on said stacking bars, saidstacking bars when the hooks thereof are engaged with the top framebeing disposedabove the level of the tops of said loops.

3. A bottle crate having tapered side walls permitting the nesting ofsuperimposed crates comprising top and bottom frames, an intermediateborder frame adjacent to but spaced from the Ybottom and vertical sideslats arranged on the outer sides of the bottom frame and intermediateborder frame and on the inner side of the top frame, sets of bottommembers secured to the bottom frame, one of said 'sets of bottom memberscrossing another set to provide bottom supports for bottles in cells inthe crate, the bottom members of each set being spaced to provideopenings between said bottom members, crossed sets of partitionmembers,y each having a series of upwardly projecting loops disposedwith the bights of the loops in crossed relation and secured together,said upwardly projecting crossed loops being `alined with said openingsin vthe bottom to enter the same when the crates are disposed in nestedrelation, and stacking Abars swir'igably mounted onsaid crate to beswung to an operative stacking position across the top of the crate orto an inoperative position outside said walls, said stacking bars whenin operative stacking position being disposed above the level of thetops of said loops.

4. A bottle crate having tapered side walls permitting the nesting ofsuperimposed crates comprising top and bottom frames, and side slats,sets of bottom members secured to the bottom frame, one of said sets ofbottom members crossing another set to provide bottom supports forbottles in cells in the crate, the bottom members of each set beingspaced to provide openings between said bottom members, and crossed setsof partition members each having a series of upwardly projecting loopsdisposed with the bights of the loops in crossed relation and securedtogether, said upwardly projeerting crossed loops being alined with saidopenings in the bottom to enter the same when the crates are disposed innested relation.

5. A bottle crate having tapered side walls permitting'the nesting ofsuperimposed crates comprising top and bottom frames, an intermediateborder frame adjacent to but spaced from the bottom and side slats, setsof bottom members secured to the bottom frame, one of said sets ofbottom members crossing another set to provide bottom supports forbottles in cells in the crate, the bottom members of each set beingspaced to provide openings between said bottom members, and crossed setsof partition members, each having a series of upwardly projecting loopsdisposed with the bights of the loops in crossed relation and securedtogether, said upwardly projecting crossed loops being alined with saidopenings in the bottom to enter the same when the crates are disposed innested relation.

6. A bottle crate having downwardly tapered side walls permitting thenesting of superimposed crates, said side walls comprising top andbottom frames and an intermediate border frame adjacent to but spacedfrom the bottom frame and vertical side slats, bottom members secured tothe bottom border frame, said bottom members being spaced to provideopenings therebetween and spaced to constitute bottom supports forbottles in cells in the crate, cells comprising upwardly projecting cellside portions disposed in vertical alinement with said openings to pro-vject through the openings in the bottom of a superimposed nested crate,and bail-like stacking .bars having pivot arms pivotally engaging lopposed members of the top frame, said arms being joined to the stackingbars by downwardly facing hooks adapted when the stacking bars ing barswhen the hooks thereof are engaged with the top frame being disposedabove the level of said cell side portions.

'7. A bottle crate having downwardly tapered side walls permitting thenesting of superimposed crates, said side walls comprising top andbottom frames and an intermediate border frame adjacent to but spacedfrom the bottom frame and vertical side slats, bottom members securedtothe bottom border frame, said bottom members being spaced to provideopenings therebetween and spaced to constitute bottom supports tionsdisposed in vertical alinement with said openings to project through theopenings in the bottom of a superimposed nested crate, said bottomhaving portions thereof between said openings positioned beneath saidcells to constitute supports for bottles in said cells, and bail-likestacking bars having pivot arms pivotally engaging opposed members ofthe top frame, said arms being joined to the stacking bars by downwardlyfacing hooks adapted when the stacking bars are erected to engageopposed members of the top frame, the reach of said bars between saidhooks being downwardly offset relative to the hooks to provide a seatbetween said hooks for a superimposed crate, the stacking bar arms beingdownwardly offset between the hooks and their pivotal engagement toreceive the corners of a superimposed crate between them, said stackingbars when the hooks thereof are engaged` with the top frame beingdisposed above the level of said cell side portions.

9. A bottle crate having downwardly tapered walls permitting the nestingof superimposed crates, a bottom provided with spaced openings, andcells comprising upwardly projecting cell side portions disposed invertical alinement with said openings to project through the openings inthe bottom of a superimposed nested crate, said bottom having portionsthereof between said openings positioned beneath said cells toconstitute supports for bottles in said cells.

10. A bottle crate having tapered side walls permitting the nesting ofsuperimposed crates, said side walls comprising top and bottom framesand an intermediate border frame adjacent to but spaced from the bottomframe and vertical side slats, sets of bottom members secured to thebottom frame, one of said sets of bottom members crossing another set toprovide bottom supports for bottles in cells in the crate, the bottommembers of each set being spaced to provide openings `between saidbottom members, crossed sets of cell partition cross members havinghorizontal reaches extending substantially across the crate anddownwardly offset ends secured to the bottom frame, and crossed sets ofcell side members arranged in vertical alinement with said cellpartition members and each having a series of loops alined with saidcell partition members and with the bights of their downward loopssecured to the upper sides of the cell partition members and the bightsof their upwardly projecting loops disposed in crossed relation andsecured together, the end arms of said cell side members terminating inlateral extensions secured to said intermediate border frame, said cratebottom members being spaced to permit the upwardly projecting portionsof said side members to project through the bottom of a superimposednestedl crate,

11. A bottle crate having tapered walls permitting the 'nesting ofsuperimposed crates, a bottom provided with spaced openings, crossedsetsV of cell partition cross members, and crossed sets of cell sidemembers arranged in vertical alinement with said cell partition membersand each having a series of loops alined with said cell partitionmembers and with the bights of their downward loops secured to the uppersides of the cell partition members and the bights of their upwardlyprojecting loops disposed in crossed relation and secured together, saidcrate bottom openings being positioned to yreceive the upwardlyprojecting portions of the cell side mem- 5 bers of a lower nestedcrate.

LEE A. FORDON.

